I’m a firm believer in the power of the mind. I also believe that any real positive change in negative/harmful/unhealthy habits begins in the mind; the body will only do what the mind convinces it that it can do. No matter how many pieces of equipment a person has, no matter how many opportunities to cook healthily, exercise, move, jump, run, play, sweat. If you think you can’t you wouldn’t, if you think you can … you will.
My next question to myself usually is, if I think I can’t then why not? Could it be that I don’t consider myself worth the effort? I think to myself sometimes, if I had a family, as loving wife and mother I would:
- NOT leave my baby in front of the T.V. all the time
- NOT model to my family that stress is best relieved by cake and ice-cream
- NOT ignore the value of getting outdoors
- NOT negate the benefits of exercise
- NOT feed my family chocolate for breakfast, chips for lunch then wine for dinner
If I’d do that for them, why can’t I do that for myself. Is because I don’t think I’m worth the effort or is it just laziness?
As I take on this new adventure of becoming as healthy as it is in my power to become, I need to answer those questions. I need to look honestly and thoughtfully at what my answers are then re-train my mind if my answers undervalue my worth.
What about you? Where does your journey begin? Are you worth it?
D'NALI 
lots of meaningful ideas here nicky!!! thanks for sharing your thoughts as i need to beat this into my head as well. i am worth making time for, just like we do for others! 🙂
Yes indeed — you are worth every effort! Thank you for joining the conversation. 😀
I agree whole heartedly with the discussion. If I busy myself taking care of everything else and everyone else around me almost feeling like I’m being selfish to think of my needs first, it defeats the whole purpose of me being who I was created to be. Nurturing my mind and body first, spills out into every crevice and that bubbling over automatically enriches me and those around me. Pure positive contagion!
I love that phrase — pure positive contagion!!! Couldn’t have said it better!
These are good questions. Although I’m child-free for life, thinking about these questions is good because it puts things into perspective, and I know my answers to those questions. This perspective now makes me wanna push onward & forward with the healthy living journey even more. Thanks for the food for thought. 🙂
I’m with you. Although everyone’s specifics may not not be exactly the same, we all need to ask ourselves these types of questions. Mainly, why would we do for other but leave ourselves unattended.
Keep pushing friend! We should walk the Brooklyn Bridge a couple of times this Spring/Summer. 😀
Good idea. 🙂
Love your illustration above, very poignant.
This is the “disease” of being a responsible adult woman–somehow everybody gets put before ourselves! Work, family, sometimes friends and even strangers. We forget that in order to give water the well must be filled itself, otherwise nobody gets any benefit when the well runs dry. I think it goes beyond feeling worth it– it’s knowing that it is not only okay but NECESSARY to care for yourself and not feel guilty about it. And accepting also that the word won’t fall apart if we take time out to care for ourselves!
Indeed. I don’t even think we realise how necessary it is. God help us.
I love that analogy, “in order to give water the well must be filled itself” … that’s just boss!
As women I think it is often hard to put our needs in front of others. Knowing you, I bet your would have no problem doing all that you possibly can for others. Yet, when it comes to doing the same for yourself, it proves to me a test. While our friends and family are well worth the best we can offer, so are we.
The self evaluation you have posted above is a great start. Realizing that you need to care for yourself is the beginning of many great things. Just remember that you are worth it, just as worth it as those you bestow your love upon.
And of you need to look at it another way. When you are at your best by taking care of your needs, your better able to help other.
XO!
Yes! Like Social Work & Psych 101 says, you can’t care for anyone if you don’t take care of yourself. I wonder why it is that we find self-care so hard to do.
Yes I am worth it. That is thing honey, you are your safe place and all those things you would give and do for others you are the one to do for yourself. I am learning a little more everyday the importance of loving myself. It doesn’t mean I’ll be perfect but it means I’ll keep trying.
The best gift I can give me, is to never give up on improving. And Nicky, it begins today and it begins with us accepting where we are and looking forward to where we want to be. Ashe.
Amen to that!!! 🙂